November 2010        

The poor long for riches, the rich long for heaven, but the wise long for a state of tranquilituy."   S. Rama

Loving Greetings from Nalanda

Dear friends and clients

The year-end looms and most of us are looking forward to and urgently needing a break.  2010 has been a busy year for most, challenging and stressful for many.

As we start wraping up our projects, saving and planning for the upcoming holidays and trying to stay motivated, we often become victims of the slient killer - Stress.

Heart disease, high blood pressure, peptic ulcers, poor immune function, chronic pain and migraines are all symptoms of the stress we create with our runaway lives.  

Contents:

1.  What is Stress?

2.  Stressors, what creates Stress?

3.  Signs and symptoms of excessive Stress

4.  How to melt and prevent Stress

5.  Specials

            a. Pancha Karma Detox Retreat R9000

            b. Wellness Week – R5400

6.  Wellness Massage Course based on Ayurvedic Principles, 28 days

7.  Recipe, Banana Mousse

8.  Amazing Bananas, nature’s tonic

9.  Diary of events

Now more than every we need to ensure we take care of ourselves.  Healthy diets and exercise are highly important to stay on top, but more necessary is relaxation - time in nature.

This month we focus on stress, we know about it, have it however yet still tend to ignore it.  What are we really dealing with here, how does it really affect us and where will it all end?    

Reverting back to traditional wellbeing and allowing ourselves the luxury of being able to care for ourselves could quite possibly be the difference between life and dealth.

In closing, we wish you a spectacular festive season.  Travel safe, revel in the outdoors and enjoy this precious time of family and friends.

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Stress, in ayurvedic terms, is directly related to the balance of our three vital energies/Doshas, namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  Our daily habits greatly determine how harmoniously these doshas function.

Adults, teens, children and even animals experience some degree and varying forms of stress on a daily basis.  In small doses, stress can be beneficial in keeping you on your toes when needing to rise to a challenge.  Stress becomes problematic when the stress builds up and starts affecting you on a physical or mental level.

When your whole system is working properly, your body's stress response enhances your ability to perform well under pressure. But the stress response can cause problems when it continues without turning off and resetting itself to “normal,” as when you have to deal with long-term or ongoing stressful events. 

These types of situations can produce a lasting, low-level stress that may eventually take a toll on your body. In these cases, the nervous system continues to feel pressured and remains slightly activated, still pumping out extra stress hormones over an extended period, which can wear out your energy reserves, leaving you feeling depleted or overwhelmed, weakening your immune system, and causing other problems.

Stress is often misunderstood to be negative forgetting the importance and uselfulness of positive stress.  Stress is everywhere and definitely unavoidable; hence our emphasis should be on learning to cope with negative stress, and harness the power of positive stress to help us achieve more.

Stressors - what creates stress?

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• Negative thoughts and emotions, conscious or unconscious

• Lifestyle habits - diet, sleeping patterns, exercise

• Relationships: work, family and friends

• Work load, deadlines and job satisfaction

• Financial pressure

• Abuse: physical, mental, emotional

• Wants & expectations, limiting belief systems, low ego & self worth, perfectionism, controlling.

• Stimulants: alcohol, tea, green tea, coffee, sugar, smoking other use of medicines and drugs

• Grief or loss, major changes, lack of boundaries, unable to say NO

• Excessive travelling and traffic

• Little to no breaks, silent and ME time

• Miscommunications and misunderstandings, judgments

• Attachment to people and material things; inability to accept and surrender

• Health worries, challenges, ageing, guilt, isolation, disconnection

• New information technologies such as cellphones, sms, emails on the go

• Pollution and chemicals in food, water and air

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We all experience stress a little differently, according to our constitution and mental tendencies.  Ayurveda provides guidelines in an individualized and holistic manner. 

1.  Vata types are more prone to becoming overly anxious, jumpy, and even panicky. And most people with a chronic illness may find that the symptoms of their illness flare up under an overload of stress.  The inability to think clearly or retain information is a common symptom in a stressful or traumatic situation as well as mental hyperactivity, anxiety, and scattered thoughts. 

2.  Kapha people tend to internalize stress and develop eating disorders or substance abuse problems.  Lack of exercise causes the formation of toxins and slows down the metabolism.  This can lead to heaviness on the mental and emotional plane giving rise to depression.  Kapha types can also get irritable because excess Pitta becomes trapped in their increased body fat, and they tend to eat too much to relieve tension and try to attain a feeling of satisfaction. 

3.  Pitta constitutions tend to become angry and act out their stress, or take it out on others and benefit from Pitta pacifying lifestyle and foods to decrease excess Pitta and prevent the stress from moving into the nervous tissue. 

Symptoms of stress:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, peptic ulcers, poor immune function, chronic pain and migraines
• Exhaustion and fatigue of the body and mind
• Inability to commit to good diet and lifestyle choices
• Anxiety or panic attacks, depression and inability to enjoy life

• A constant feeling of pressure and rushing
• Easily irritated by small problems, moodiness, unsympathetic
• Physical symptoms such as stomach problems, headaches or even chest pain
• Allergic reactions such as eczema or asthma
• Problems sleeping
• Excess alcohol, smoking, comfort eating and drugs
• Sadness, laziness, sluggishness, mentally dull, numbness, taking things too personal, negative affects on close relationships
• Feeling physically and emotionally run down and drained

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Stress can take away so much quality of life and leave one feeling paralyzed and victimized.  Sometimes external input, energy and love is needed to find a way back to harmony, balance and wellbeing.  The entire offering of Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre is aimed at supporting you to reduce, manage and prevent stress.  

Rest, play, fun and time in nature are vital ingredients to prevent exhaustion.  Regular Ayurvedic Retreats or treatments will greatly improve the bodies capacity to deal with stress.  The most effective countermeasure is a healthy daily routine promoting overall balance and vitality.

Seasonal Pancha Karma Detox Retreats offers proactive, preventative health, detoxification and rejuvenation.  It balances all doshas, cleanses your body of physical and mental toxins, allows one to be nurtured and cared for and clears unresolved emotions gently.

Wellness Retreats, vegetarian meals prepared with ayurvedic principles, yoga and time to relax, being in nature will help melt your stress levels and equip you to cope and enjoy a happy life.

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a. 2011 Pancha Karma Detox Retreats

Eliminate the holiday seasons toxin build–up in your body, mind and spirit by joining us for a minimum of seven days or longer using the age-old Ayurvedic detoxification program.  Contact Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre regarding availability and for a full tailor-made quotation.

Upcoming dates:

• 10 – 16 January
• 14 – 20 February
• 21– 27 March

SPECIAL OFFER:  

R9 000.00 for a 7–day Pancha Karma Detox Retreat between Jan to April confirmed before the 15th December 2010.  Normal rate approximatly R12 000

Loft accommdation with shared bathroom

b.  Wellness Weeks

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As another busy year draws to an end an abundance of stress is locked within in the body, let Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre dissolve unwanted radicals and facilitate your healthy body, mind and spirit.

Rest and rejuvenate, balance the entire system with wonderful massages, healthy and delicious Ayurvedic vegetarian meals, Yoga, time in nature and lots of loving care!

Included:

• Daily nurturing massage treatments
• Quiet time, time in nature, rest and relaxation, meditation
• Introduction to self-care treatment
• Discussions on diet and lifestyle
• All vegetarian meals based on ayurvedic principals, including  mid-morning and afternoon snacks
• Four nights accommodation, Monday – Friday at Nalanda Ayurvedic Retreat Centre included, other accommodation extra

• 6 - 10 December
• 24 - 28 January
• 7 - 11 February
• 7  11 March

Normal rate R6 600.00

SPECIAL OFFER:  

R5 400.00 for a Wellness Week in Jan to April confirmed before the 15th December 2010.

Loft accommdation with shared bathroom

Wellness Massage Course based on Ayurvedic Principles - 28 days

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Restoring harmony with the gift of touch

Discover the ancient Indian art of Massage based on Ayurveda – the science of life.  The traditional oil massages calm the nervous system, activates circulation, rid the body of tension and promotes better health and wellbeing for body mind and spirit.  Experience a great variety of massages, warm oils, soft hands and a loving heart.

Margit Gilliot, owner of Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre, has a deep love and passion for Massages based on ayurvedic principles.  She has satisfied clients both locally and abroad with Ayurvedic Massages, Ayurveda Wellness and Pancha Karma Detox Retreats.  Trained in France by Kiran Yvas she now has two decades of experience and is excited to share her skills.

Her sensitivity and intuition will provide a safe and nurturing space for deep transformation for the participants.

This practice for health and wellbeing can greatly advance us towards harmony and joy.  It’s a form of communication and simply a state of being.  The participants will feel the effect of the treatments on their own body.  Massage cannot be learnt on an intellectual level as a technique, the body needs to create a memory of receiving and giving touch.  Through massaging and being massaged, you will connect more deeply with your physical self and hence, all other parts of your being.

During the 28 practical days, not only will one learn the different massages and be able to practice with confidence, but also clear ones own emotional and mental blockages and be deeply refreshed and renewed.

The course consists of:

• 200 hours in 28 practical days
• Practice of a variety of Wellness Massages based on Ayurvedic principles
• Knowledge/theory on Ayurvedic Massages and Ayurveda
• All vegetarian meals based on ayurvedic principles and including mid morning and afternoon snacks and herbal teas
• Yoga, breathing, meditation and sharing
• Full course notes
• Certificate of attendance will be issued on completion, full attendance and evaluation at the end of the course

Sharing and participation of students in small daily tasks and meal preparations is an integral part of the course.

Fees:

R12 000.00 excludes accommodation.

We will assist with accommodation options based on budget and requirements.

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Experience the amazing three-day course that rejuvenates the body, steadies the breath, calms the mind, transcends the intellect, sharpens the memory, dissolves the ego and increases joyfulness in life.

This deeply introspective and fun course is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds, cultures and traditions in more than 140 countries. It does not conflict with any religious practices - rather, it enhances them by allowing participants to experience the very inner core of their being.

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Banana Mousse

Amazing Banana’s – natures tonic

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• The banana fruit balances Vata and Pitta doshas.

• The root is a good remedy for ear diseases.

• The raw flowers can be used as a remedy for diabetes and ulcers.

• Banana juice works for fevers, hemorrhages, hysteria, epilepsy, leprosy, dysentery, digestive disorders, hemorrhoids and diarrhea can be cured by using this plant.

• It acts a pain reliever in the case of insect stings.

• The tender, young leaves give a cooling effect when applied on burns.

• Diarrhea and malignant ulcers are curable by eating bananas.

• The fruit helps to cure eye diseases like catarrh.

• Anemia, blood pressure, constipation, depression can be controlled by this fruit.

2010 Diary of Events

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View photographs of the beautiful centre in Greyton, comment on your  experience at Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre, get recipes, ayurvedic dietary tips and advice and make sure that you are kept updated with our special offers and events.

Welcome to Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre.

We reserved the right to make changes to the treatments to give you maximum benefit according to your body type or imbalance.